Figure 3.

Physiological T cell activation and expansion is distinct from CAR T cell culture. The mitochondria within naïve T cells utilizes a OXPHOS and FAO which is reprogrammed when T cells are activated through antigen presentation and a diverse range of cytokines. Following activation effector T cells possess fragmented mitochondria with a glycolytic metabolism to facilitate effector function. Contraction (the green line) of these effector T cells into a memory population once again reprograms the mitochondria toward OXPHOS and FAO. In contrast CAR T cells are activated through CD3 and CD28 antibody stimulation in the presence of one or more cytokines. Furthermore, CAR T cell expansion is maintained, without allowing the natural contraction of the population (the red line). The figure was created with Biorender.com.